FAIRFIELD, ME – Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) has partnered with a respected national renewable energy training provider to offer an online solar thermal training course featuring two instructors who are considered the best in the industry.

KVCC’s Energy Services Center and Solar Energy International (SEI) will offer the course beginning in September. It has been developed and will be taught by two “live” SEI instructors – Chuck Marken and Maine’s own Vaughan Woodruff – an adjunct instructor at KVCC.

The “Solar Hot Water Design and Installation” course will run from September 22 to November 2. The registration deadline for the course is Sept. 19.

The online, self-paced course is geared toward individuals who have limited experience with solar heating systems and are interested in expanding their understanding of solar heating technology. Instructors Marken and Woodruff will be available during normal office hours to give feedback.

The course takes six weeks to complete and will address theory, design considerations and installation strategies necessary to install and maintain a solar domestic hot water system. The course also addresses passive solar heaters, drainback systems, antifreeze systems, and photovoltaic powered systems. It also provides an introduction to pool and space heating systems.

The course offers a great opportunity for students to become familiar with solar thermal technology. It supports the development of advanced knowledge and skills for individuals working with solar heating technologies and will prepare students for employment as solar energy specialists who are involved with the evaluation, planning, design, installation, and/or maintenance of solar heating systems.

The course will familiarize students with industry history, the distribution chain, jobs in the industry, safe practices, and national codes and standards. Students will explore the different types of collectors, systems, components, and materials used in solar heating systems and determine their appropriate applications. The course will also examine the techniques and tools used for installing solar heating equipment.

Finally, students will learn how to conduct site assessments, analyze hot water loads, develop accurate system sizing and project cost estimates, and identify the economic and non-economic benefits of a solar heating system.

Upon completion of this course, students will also be eligible to take the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) Solar Heating Entry Level Exam (SH1 015 or SH1 016). This exam is optional; therefore students must register to take this exam separately.

In addition, the course provides Continuing Education Hours (CEH) with North American Technician Excellence (NATE) as follows:

▪ Heating Hydronics - Gas Installer, eight hours.

▪ Heating Hydronics - Oil Installer, eight hours.

▪ Heating Hydronics - Gas Servicer, eight hours.

▪ Heating Hydronics - Oil Servicer, eight hours.

SEI is one of the longest running and most respected renewable energy training providers in the industry with over 35,000 alumni world-wide.

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